1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global, you 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: go back to school, but to come back and move 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 2: his birthday. Wow, Thanks Grandpa, but he'll never forget how 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 2: you invest it in his future with the units stap. Wow, 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: thanks Grandpa. The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents 13 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: and family friends to give funds to a child's investment 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: account for a limited time. Download the uns stap and 15 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: use the code I heeart fifty at sign up to 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: receive a fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: That's code iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: dot co for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and 19 00:00:58,560 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: conditions at uns dots. 20 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 3: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 3: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much? 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 3: In taxes, will I be able to retire? What if 23 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 3: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 24 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 3: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 25 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 3: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 26 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 3: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 27 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 3: and get your financial wellness score today. That's face t 28 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 3: dot com. This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth 29 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 3: in Corporated is an sec registered investment advisor. This is 30 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 3: not an offer to buy yourself securities, nor is it investment, 31 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 3: legal or tax advice. 32 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 33 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 34 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 4: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 35 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 4: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 36 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 4: put God's very best in your life. Now, God bless you. 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 4: It's a joy to come into your homes. We love you, 38 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 4: just an honor to spend this next half hour or 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 4: so with you. So if you're ever in our area, 40 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 4: I hope you'll stop by and make yourself at home here. 41 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 4: I promise you We'll make you feel comfortable. But come 42 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 4: out and see us. But we're glad to have you 43 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 4: tuned in today, and I'd like to get started each 44 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 4: week with something kind of funny. And I heard about 45 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 4: this guy. He had been stranded all alone on a 46 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 4: deserted island for twenty years, and all of a sudden, 47 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 4: this ship came up to rescue him, and the captain 48 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 4: came ashore, and he noticed that the man had built 49 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 4: three buildings in a row. He was kind of curious. 50 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 4: He asked the man, what are those three buildings. The 51 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 4: man said, well, the building on the left is my home. 52 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 4: The building on the right is my church. The captain 53 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 4: was even more curious. He said, what about that one 54 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 4: in the middle, and the man said, oh, that's the 55 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 4: church I used to go to. All right, hold your 56 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 4: bibles up, say it like you mean it. This is 57 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 4: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 58 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 4: have what it says I have. I can do what 59 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 4: it says I can do. Today I will be talked 60 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 4: the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 61 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 4: my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 62 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 4: I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living 63 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 4: seed of the Word of God. I'll never be the 64 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 4: same never, never, never, I'll never be the same. In Jesus' name, 65 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 4: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 66 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 4: about being confident in who God made you to be. 67 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 4: You are an individual and you have something to offer 68 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 4: this world that nobody else has. But too often we 69 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 4: make the mistake of comparing ourselves with other people, and 70 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,839 Speaker 4: if we don't think we measure up, then we don't 71 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 4: feel good about ourselves. This brings pressure, and it brings competition, 72 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 4: and before long we're not even being the individual that 73 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 4: God's made us to be. I heard somebody say we 74 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 4: forfeit three fourths of who we are trying to be 75 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 4: like somebody else. I believe many of our problems are 76 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: rooted in the fact that we're trying to be something 77 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 4: that we're not. But if you're going to really experience 78 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 4: God's best, you've got to learn to just be yourself. 79 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 4: You can't go around comparing and competing with other people. 80 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 4: You shouldn't live your life trying to please everybody, try 81 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 4: to gain their approval, trying to fit into their mold. 82 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: Now you've got to run your own race, and I 83 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 4: want to challenge you today to be the individual God 84 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 4: made you to be. Don't be a copycat, don't be 85 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 4: an imitation, be an original. You may not be like 86 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 4: everybody else, you may not fit into their mold, but 87 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 4: that's okay. Your attitude should be I am free to 88 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 4: be me now. I don't have to have everybody's approval 89 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 4: to feel good about myself. I'm not going to compare 90 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 4: my life to anybody else's. I'm not gonna go around 91 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 4: wishing that I was something different. No, I'm going to 92 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 4: be happy with who God made me to be. And 93 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 4: I'm not talking about being rebellious in any way or 94 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 4: live outside of God's word. I'm talking about not being 95 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 4: pressured into being something that you're not. See, there's not 96 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 4: another person on this planet like you. Nobody has your 97 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 4: same fingerprints. You may have a few quirks in your personality, 98 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 4: your taste may be a little bit different, but that's okay. 99 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 4: You're not weird, You're unique. You're one of a kind. 100 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 4: Quit getting down on yourself because you don't think you 101 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 4: measure up to this certain person, or because you don't 102 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 4: think you have enough of this or you have too 103 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 4: much of that. I hear people say, well, if I 104 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 4: just had her looks, or I wish I had his personality. 105 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 4: I wish I was six inches taller, I wish I 106 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 4: had more hair. No, God made you like you are 107 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 4: on purpose. You are not an accident. If God wanted 108 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 4: you to be taller, he would have made you taller. 109 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 4: He wanted you to have a different personality, he would 110 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 4: have given you one. You've got to quit apologizing and 111 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 4: quit feeling bad towards yourself because of who you are. 112 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 4: Some of you have very strong personalities. Well that's the 113 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 4: way God made you. And I'm not saying there are 114 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 4: not areas where we can improve. But if you have 115 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 4: a strong personality, don't fight it and go around being 116 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 4: condemned because you're not something else. Learn to accept who 117 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 4: you are. It's funny to me because it seems like 118 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 4: we're always trying to be something that we're not. And 119 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 4: I'm naturally very quiet and reserved. That's my personality. I'm 120 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 4: just real laid back. But when I was growing up, 121 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 4: I always thought that I needed to be more bold 122 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 4: and forceful. I'd see somebody with a strong personality and 123 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 4: I think, yeah, that's the way I need to be. 124 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 4: But one day I learned to just relax and enjoy 125 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 4: who God created me to be I found I don't 126 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 4: have to be like anybody else. It's okay to just 127 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 4: be me. This takes all the pressure off. I mean, 128 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 4: it's easy to be me. I don't have to think 129 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 4: about it. I don't have to pretend. I don't have 130 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,559 Speaker 4: to be on guard. I can just relax and enjoy 131 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 4: my life. I remember one time, after Victoria and I 132 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 4: had just gotten married, we had a leak in our townhouse. 133 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 4: One night. The roofer forgot to cover up the roof 134 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 4: and it rained that night and the next morning, when 135 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 4: I came down, I could see that the whole downstairs 136 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 4: was flooded. And I was fairly young, in my early twenties. 137 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 4: I was about to call the company and let them 138 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 4: know what happened. But I thought to myself, I need 139 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 4: to be loud and forceful, mean and angry to let 140 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 4: them know that I really mean business. I didn't think 141 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 4: they'd take me seriously. If not, now, I'll never forget. 142 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 4: I tried to raise my voice, be real strong and 143 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 4: real tough there on the phone, and I'm telling you, 144 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 4: I felt like a fish out of water. I mean, 145 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 4: can you see this face being mean? I started off 146 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 4: the conversation real loud and tough. By the end of 147 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,559 Speaker 4: the conversation, I was inviting them all over for dinner. 148 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 4: My point is, be who you are, and don't be 149 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 4: condemned because you're not something else. I realized, I'm never 150 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 4: going to be real, bold and forceful. 151 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: That's not me. 152 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 4: Some of you are never going to be quiet and reserved. 153 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 4: You're not going to handle things the way I would. 154 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 4: But that's okay. Doesn't mean that I'm necessarily right and 155 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 4: you're wrong. We're just different. And I'm not saying it's 156 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 4: okay to be rude. It's not okay to be mealy mouthed. 157 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 4: What I'm saying today is we have to learn to 158 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 4: stay in the annoying that God has given us. I 159 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 4: see too many people going around wishing they were something different, 160 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 4: feeling condemned because they're not like somebody else. No, enjoy 161 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 4: who God made you to be. I have a friend 162 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 4: that has a real strong personality. He's very kind, but 163 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 4: he's just naturally very straight and to the point, very 164 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 4: matter of fact. And he told me one day he 165 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 4: and his wife were having a disagreement turned into kind 166 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 4: of a heated debate, and she finally said to him, well, 167 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 4: you just need to be more like Joel. He said, 168 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 4: excuse me, I think I'm supposed to be more like Jesus. 169 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 4: She said, that's right, But why don't you start with Joel. Well, 170 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 4: you say, Joel, my coworker. He is so kind and 171 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 4: gentle with everybody. I don't know what's wrong with me. 172 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 4: Nothing's wrong with you. God made you different. Well, she's 173 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 4: so smart and talented. No wonder she's successful. No, God 174 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 4: hasn't left you out. He's given you everything you need 175 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 4: to succeed. Well, I wish my metabolism was as fast 176 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 4: as hers. She need anything she wants to. She never 177 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 4: gains a pen. That's not right. No quick comparing your 178 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 4: life and run your own race. I heard somebody say 179 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 4: my metabolism is not slow, it's in a coma. But 180 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 4: when we compare, all this is going to do is 181 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,599 Speaker 4: frustrate us, because I found ninety nine percent of the 182 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 4: time we only compare ourselves with people that have more money, 183 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 4: more success, more talent, people that are better looking, healthier, happier. 184 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 4: That's human nature. And all that's going to do is 185 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 4: make us feel inferior, inadequate, mistreated. It's not fair, And 186 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 4: I really believe some of you today could get your 187 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 4: joy back if you just start running your own race. 188 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 4: You're always looking at what everybody else is doing and 189 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 4: what everybody else has. You're comparing your problems to their problems. 190 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 4: The Scripture says in proverbs, don't look to the left, 191 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 4: and don't look to the right, look straight ahead. We're 192 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 4: all at different stages. You may compare yourself to another person, 193 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: but you don't know why that person is where he is. 194 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 4: You don't know what he's gone through to get there. 195 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 4: You don't know what God has in store for him. 196 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 4: Every plan is different. We're individuals. I know this lady, 197 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 4: she's been praying for her husband to come to church 198 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 4: with her for over twenty years. He still hasn't come. 199 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: But she invited a friend not too long ago, and 200 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 4: she started coming. And this lady began to pray that 201 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 4: her husband would come, and it wasn't. A month later 202 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 4: to this other lady's husband started to come. And this 203 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 4: first lady was so frustrated. She said, Joel, I don't 204 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 4: understand that I've been praying for twenty years. That just 205 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 4: doesn't seem fair. Notice she didn't get frustrated until she 206 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 4: started comparing. I told her what I'm telling you, run 207 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 4: your own race. Quit focusing on that. I found. Sometimes 208 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 4: God will bring people across our path that are more prosperous, 209 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 4: more blessed, or somebody that has what we want, simply 210 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 4: as a test. He wants to see how we're going 211 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 4: to respond. Are we going to be happy for him? 212 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 4: Are we going to keep a good attitude, or are 213 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 4: we going to get all down and discouraged? Say, man, 214 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 4: it's not fair. Why did they get that new house, 215 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 4: Why are they so talented? Why did their husband come? Now, 216 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 4: keep a good attitude, keep doing your best, and you'll 217 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 4: pass that test. And we need to learn to be 218 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 4: happy with the gifts and talents that God has given us. 219 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 4: They may not be what other people have, but God 220 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,719 Speaker 4: knows what's best for you. And really, you shouldn't want 221 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 4: what I have, because if God gave you what I have, 222 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 4: it would be second best. In other words, what God 223 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: has for you is a whole lot better than what 224 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 4: I have. He's got a perfect plan of your life. 225 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 4: And Paul said in Galatians five twenty six, stop comparing, 226 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 4: stop competing, and quit being jealous of what other people have. 227 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 4: I found the moment we start to compare, it steals 228 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 4: our joy and it's going to sour our day. You 229 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 4: can get up in the morning be in a perfectly 230 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 4: good mood. You drive into the garage at the office 231 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 4: and you see your friend pull up with a brand 232 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 4: new car, and you think to yourself, Man, that's not fair. 233 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 4: I wish I could afford a new car. All I 234 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 4: got this old piece of junk. Before long, you're all 235 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 4: down and discouraged. And it's all because you're comparing. Or 236 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 4: maybe you see your friend walk in and she's got 237 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 4: her husband by her side. This man is tall and 238 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 4: dark and handsome. He looks like he just stepped out 239 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 4: of a fashion magazine, and you think to yourself, Man, alive, 240 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 4: my husband, he looks like he stepped out of an 241 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 4: antique magazine. Sorry, man, don't compare your spouse. Don't compare 242 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 4: your looks with anybody else looks. Don't compare your talent 243 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 4: your education. Don't compare your successes or your failures. Run 244 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 4: your own race, and be confident in who God has 245 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 4: made you to be. I see too many people today. 246 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 4: They're insecure, and because of these insecurities, they go around 247 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 4: not only comparing but They're constantly trying to get everybody's 248 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 4: approval so they can feel good about themselves, and they 249 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 4: end up living to please people, trying to fit into 250 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 4: their mold, and really they're not being true to who 251 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 4: they are. 252 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 3: And all this does. 253 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 4: It steals our uniqueness, it steals our creativity. But friends, 254 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 4: God doesn't want a bunch of clones. He likes variety. 255 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 4: He went to great links to make sure that we 256 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 4: all didn't look the same. What a shame to go 257 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 4: through life trying to be like somebody else. What a 258 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 4: shame to go around trying to fit in somebody else's mold. Now, 259 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 4: don't be a cheap imitation. Be the original God made 260 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 4: you to be. Let me tell you it's okay to 261 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 4: be different. You don't have to look like everybody, sound 262 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 4: like everybody, dressed like everybody. Be an individual. I say 263 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 4: this respectfully, but you may not like my taste in clothes, 264 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 4: You may not like the way I wear my hair, 265 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 4: you may not like my sense of humor. But I 266 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 4: can't help it if there's something wrong with you. I 267 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 4: say that just to make a point. So often we 268 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 4: go just the opposite. How am I going to fit in? 269 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 4: What are they gonna think of me? Will I be accepted? 270 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: Now? 271 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 4: Be secure in who you are. You don't know where 272 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 4: your hair a certain way. Don't go around and have 273 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 4: to check with five people to make sure that it's okay. 274 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 4: Be an individual you want to join the choir, step 275 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 4: out and launch a new business. Sure, it's good to 276 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 4: get other opinions. The scripture says there's safety in many counselors. 277 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 4: But you know as well as I do, if you 278 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 4: get too many opinions, all that's going to do is 279 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 4: bring confusion. And I found a lot of times people 280 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 4: will be real quick to tell you how to run 281 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 4: your life. The problem is they can't even run their 282 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 4: own life. Be careful about trying to get everybody's approval. Really, 283 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 4: I believe the best thing is to just search your 284 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 4: own heart and if you feel good about it, take 285 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 4: that step of faith and do it. And understand you 286 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 4: are anointed to be you. You're not annointed to be 287 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 4: somebody else. One thing you'll never beat me at is 288 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 4: being me. If you try to be me the most, 289 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 4: you'll ever be a second best Because I'm annointed to 290 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 4: be me. And when we go around comparing and copying somebody, 291 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 4: because we feel pressured or we think that they're going 292 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 4: to look down on us. All we're really doing is 293 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 4: stepping out of our own annoying. I know in my family, 294 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 4: two of my sisters and my sister in law, they 295 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 4: all homeschooled their children. And when it came time for 296 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 4: our children to go to school, Victoria and I really 297 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 4: prayed about it. We really debated because we wanted to 298 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 4: make the right decision, and of course we wanted to 299 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 4: be good parents and nothing that they did, but just 300 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: in the natural, I felt a little bit of pressure 301 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 4: to homeschool our children, and so we studied and we 302 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 4: read what all the experts said about it. One time, 303 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 4: I was even talking to my sister Lise. I said, Lesa, 304 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 4: why do you homeschool? And she said, well, Joel, when 305 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 4: you send your kids away for school, that's seven hours 306 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 4: that they're gone, and I just don't want anybody influencing 307 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 4: my children for seven hours. I felt kind of guilty. 308 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 4: I thought, man, that's seven hours to get them out 309 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 4: of the house. I can see you feel like me. 310 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 4: That's seven hours to get a break. But you know, seriously, 311 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 4: we prayed about it, and we felt good about sending 312 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 4: our kids to school, and today they're doing great. They 313 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 4: love it. But my point is if we had just 314 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 4: succumbed to that pressure and done it, because hey, everybody 315 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 4: else is doing it, and somebody may look down on us, 316 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 4: somebody may not think that we're being good parents. If 317 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 4: we had done it for the wrong reason, I believe 318 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 4: it would have been a constant struggle. It would have 319 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: been one headache after another because there would have been 320 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 4: no annoying on it. When you step out of your annoying, 321 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 4: you're going to struggle, You're going to be frustrated. And 322 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 4: that's why this is so important. To be confident in 323 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,239 Speaker 4: who God made you to be. His plan for your 324 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 4: life is not the same as his plan for somebody 325 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 4: else's life. Don't compare. If you compare, before long you'll 326 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 4: be competing, and you'll be doing things for the wrong reason. 327 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 4: My father told about one time years ago, a good 328 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 4: pastor friend of his went on this ten day fast, 329 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 4: ten days without eating any food. And this man did 330 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 4: this several times a year, and my father started to 331 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 4: feel a little bit bad about himself, started to feel 332 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 4: a little condemned because he didn't do it. Here my 333 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 4: father was a pastor of a large, successful church, and 334 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 4: this other pastor friend was sort of showing him up, 335 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 4: so to speak, in his own mind, and so my 336 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 4: father decided to go on this fast with this other man. 337 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 4: There's nothing wrong with fasting with other people, but Daddy 338 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 4: wasn't running his race. He was doing it because he 339 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 4: felt guilty. He felt pressured. And again, when you step 340 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 4: out of your anointing, there's no grace to do it. 341 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 4: It's going to be a headache. And my father told 342 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 4: later how that was one of the worst ten days 343 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 4: of his life. He said he felt like he almost 344 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 4: was going to die. And later that pastor friend asked him, John, 345 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 4: did you have any dreams or visions during your fast? 346 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 4: And Daddy said, I sure did. Every night I had 347 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 4: visions of hamburgers, hot dogs, enchilada. No, run your own race. 348 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 4: Make sure you're doing things for the right reason and 349 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 4: not just to keep up with everybody else. I've seen mothers. 350 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 4: They've got their children in every sport and every activity. 351 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 4: They're always running them here and there, and they're great mothers. 352 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 4: But do you know if you're doing that just because 353 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 4: you feel guilty and you feel like you got to 354 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 4: keep up with everybody, and maybe somebody's going to look 355 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 4: down on you, then that's just going to wear you out. 356 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 4: You've got to run your race. God has given you 357 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 4: the grace to do what He's called you to do. 358 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 4: He hasn't given you the grace to do what everybody 359 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 4: else is doing. You don't have to be the best 360 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 4: mother in the world. Just be the best mother that 361 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 4: you can be. I realize I may not be the 362 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 4: best pastor, I may not be the best husband, may 363 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 4: not be the best father, But I'm going to be 364 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 4: the best that I can be. And I'm not gonna 365 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 4: go around feeling condemned because somebody can preach better than me, 366 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 4: or somebody's better at this or better at that. No, 367 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 4: I'm not comparing. As far as I'm concerned, I'm number one. 368 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,360 Speaker 4: I know that I'm doing my best, and that's all 369 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 4: that God asked us to do. The Scripture says there 370 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 4: in Galatians six, verse four, let each man examine his 371 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 4: own work. In other words, quit looking at what everybody 372 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 4: else is doing. Focus on your own life. It goes 373 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 4: on to say, then you can take pride in yourself 374 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 4: without comparing yourself to anyone else. Paul is saying here, 375 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 4: if you don't compare and just focus on your own 376 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 4: race and the best that you can be. Then you're 377 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 4: going to be happy and you're going to feel good 378 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 4: about yourself. It's when we compare that we lose our 379 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 4: joy and we lose our confidence. And really, there's so 380 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 4: much pressure these days to just fit in and do 381 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 4: what everybody else is doing, please everybody, meet their expectations. 382 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 4: But when we do that, we become an imitation rather 383 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 4: than an original. And if you're going to really run 384 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 4: your race, you're not going to be able to meet 385 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 4: everybody's expectations. You can't be everything to everybody. You've got 386 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 4: to accept the fact that not everybody is going to 387 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 4: like you, not everybody is going to agree with every 388 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 4: decision you make, and most likely you're not going to 389 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 4: be able to keep everybody around you happy. You cannot 390 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 4: allow these outside expectations and the demands that other people 391 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 4: put on you to keep you from doing what you 392 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 4: know God wants you to do. I remember a few 393 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 4: years ago when we were trying to find a larger facility, 394 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 4: my first thought is that we would never move the church. 395 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 4: I always remembered how my father had told how he 396 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 4: felt like God had impressed him to keep it right 397 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 4: where it was. Of course, I was the new pastor 398 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 4: and I wasn't about to come in and make waves 399 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 4: and suggest that we moved the church. And so when 400 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,239 Speaker 4: we look for property, we tried to find it as 401 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 4: close as possible to that original location. But you know 402 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 4: the story of how all those deals fell through. And 403 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 4: when we got word that the Compact Center was coming available, 404 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 4: in my heart of hearts, I knew that we were 405 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 4: to pursue this. I didn't know if we were going 406 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 4: to get it, but I knew God wanted us to 407 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 4: go after it. And probably ninety nine percent of the 408 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 4: people were totally on board, were totally behind it. But 409 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 4: there were a few people back then. They used to 410 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 4: come up to me practically after every service and say, Joel, 411 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 4: you're missing it. You know, even your father said he 412 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 4: had never moved the church. If you move it, we're 413 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 4: not going to come. And that was very hard on 414 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 4: me because you never liked to lose anybody. But I've 415 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 4: discovered you've got to be willing to walk away from 416 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 4: a friend, walk away from a neighbor, walk away from 417 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 4: an associate, to do what God's calling. 418 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 3: You to do. 419 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 4: They're not gonna all They're not gonna all give you 420 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 4: their approval, they're not gonna all cheer your own. You 421 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 4: have to make a decision. Are you going to please 422 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 4: God and follow your own dreams and do what He's 423 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 4: called you to do, or are you going to succumb 424 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 4: to that pressure and just please people and end up 425 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 4: settling for mediocrity. And as I said, this was very 426 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 4: difficult for me because I don't like to disappoint people. 427 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 4: I don't like to have people that are against me. 428 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 4: But I've learned sometimes you have to disappoint people in 429 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 4: order to not disappoint God. And as much as I 430 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 4: never like to see one person leave, I found that 431 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 4: if I'll be true to myself and if I'll stay 432 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 4: true to God, that for everyone that leaves, God will 433 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 4: send us a dozen others. Amen. And if you're struggling today, 434 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 4: if you're a frustrated, and you need to examine your 435 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 4: heart and make sure you're not out of balance, always 436 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 4: trying to please this person, trying to keep this one happy, 437 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 4: trying to get this one's approval. Now, it's very freeing 438 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 4: to really understand that you don't have to keep everybody happy. 439 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 4: That's not your job. And yes, we should be kind 440 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 4: and courteous, we should go out of our way to 441 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 4: keep the peace and do good things for people, but 442 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,239 Speaker 4: we should not allow them to control us and manipulate us. 443 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 4: At some point, you've got to be bold enough to say, 444 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,239 Speaker 4: I've got to be free, to be me. I've got 445 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 4: to follow my dreams. Yes, I love you, but I 446 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 4: know I can't keep you happy. And the fact is, 447 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 4: I don't have to have your approval to feel good 448 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 4: about who I am. And a lot of times people 449 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 4: they don't realize it, they may not mean to, but 450 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,359 Speaker 4: it's easy to allow them to control us, to pressure us, 451 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 4: to manipulate us. You know, they kind of have the attitude, 452 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 4: I'll be your friend as long as you do this, this, 453 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 4: and this. I'll give you my approval as long as 454 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 4: you do it my way. This is exactly what David 455 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 4: had to face when he told King Saul that he 456 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 4: wanted to fight Goliath. Saul said that'd be fine, David, 457 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 4: you can do it as long as you put on 458 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 4: my armor. He was saying, you've got to do it 459 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 4: my way. You've got to be who I want you 460 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 4: to be. And David evidently didn't know any better because 461 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 4: he put that armor on, and Saul was so pleased. 462 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 4: He said, you look great, David. I got you just 463 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 4: like I want you. But it wasn't long until David 464 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 4: realized he didn't like that armor. It was too big, 465 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 4: it was cumbersome, it wasn't him. And David was bold 466 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 4: enough to just take that armor off. He said, listen, Saul, 467 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 4: I've got to be who God created me to be. 468 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 4: I can't walk in your annoying. I've got to walk 469 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 4: in my own annoying. Friends. God's not looking for a 470 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 4: bunch of copycats. He didn't want a substitute for Saul. 471 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 4: He wanted an original. You'll never defeat the giants in 472 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 4: your life. Where in somebody else's armor. You've got to 473 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 4: be yourself. You got to walk in you own annoying. 474 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 4: And so David took off that armor. He put down 475 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 4: the fancy sword, and he reached in his pocket and 476 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 4: he got out a slingshot. And you've got to realize 477 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 4: Saul was tall and handsome, he stood head and shoulders 478 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 4: above the rest. But David, he's just a shepherd boy, 479 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 4: no experience. But he wasn't comparing himself. He wasn't looking 480 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 4: at what he didn't have. He was looking at what 481 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 4: he did have. He bit down to the ground picked 482 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 4: up five smooth stones. I can hear Saul saying, boy, 483 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 4: you better put my armor back on. You're gonna get 484 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 4: out there and get clobbered. But no, David understood, as 485 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 4: long as he walked in his own annoying, he had 486 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 4: God's supernatural favor. As long as he walked in his annoying, 487 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 4: he knew those rocks and that slingshot they were full 488 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 4: of God's supernatural power. See, it's not important what you have. 489 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 4: What's important is does it have God's annoying on it? 490 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 4: Does it have God's favor on it? You know the 491 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 4: story David went out and without Saul's armor, he defeated Goliath. 492 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 4: I want to ask you today, are you wearing somebody 493 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 4: else's armor? Are you being who God created you to be? 494 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 4: Or are you going around being what everybody else wants 495 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 4: you to be, fulfilling their dreams for your life, trying 496 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 4: to live up to their expectations. No, walk in your 497 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 4: own annoying. I know when my father went to be 498 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 4: with the Lord back in nineteen ninety nine, one of 499 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 4: my biggest struggles and probably my biggest concerns was how 500 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 4: is everybody going to accept me? After all, my father 501 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 4: had founded the church and been here for some forty years, 502 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 4: and people were obviously used to him, and I didn't 503 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 4: think our styles were the same. Daddy was a little 504 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 4: more of a fireball. He preached a little more excitedly. 505 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 4: And I was praying one night and said, God, I 506 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,119 Speaker 4: don't know if everybody's going to accept me, and should 507 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 4: I just try to be more like my dad? Should 508 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 4: I try to copy his style and preach his messages? 509 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 4: And I was so concerned, but I'll never forget. God 510 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,239 Speaker 4: spoke back to me. I felt it so strong, right 511 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 4: down in here, not out loud, but he said, Joel, 512 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 4: don't try to copy anybody. Just be yourself. Just be 513 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 4: who I created you to be. God was saying. God 514 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 4: was saying, I don't want you to wear anybody else's armor. 515 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 4: I don't want a duplicate of your dad. I want 516 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 4: an original. And when I heard that minute set me free. 517 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 4: I knew that I was free to be me. And 518 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 4: if there's any success I've had in these last seven years, 519 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 4: I know one reason is because I've always walked in 520 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 4: my own annoying. I haven't tried to be something that 521 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 4: I'm not. I haven't tried to copy somebody else. I've 522 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 4: learned to just be myself. And I'm asking you to 523 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 4: do the same thing. Be the original God made you 524 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 4: to be. Don't be a copycat, take off all that 525 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 4: other armor, Quit living just to please other people, and 526 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 4: walk in your own annoying. Don't make that mistake of 527 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 4: comparing your life, comparing your looks, comparing your education, comparing 528 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 4: your problem. No, run your own race. And when you 529 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,360 Speaker 4: see others that have what you want, instead of comparing 530 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 4: and getting all jealous, be happy for them. Pass that test, 531 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 4: knowing that your day is coming. And friends, if you'll 532 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 4: be the individual God made you to be and not 533 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 4: go around comparing and competing, trying to get everybody's approval, 534 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 4: trying to impress people. Now, if you'll just get up 535 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 4: each day and do your best to be who God 536 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 4: created you to be, I can promise you you'll not 537 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 4: only be happier and more fulfilled, but you'll see your 538 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 4: gifts and talents come out to the full. And I 539 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 4: believe God will do for you what he did for me. 540 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 4: He'll take your places that you've never even dreamed of. Amen. 541 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 4: Do you receive it today? Or we never like to 542 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 4: close of our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to 543 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 4: make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 544 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 4: with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 545 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 4: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 546 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 4: If you prayed that simple prayer, leave you got born again, 547 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 4: Get in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 548 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 4: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 549 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to the joel Ostein podcast. Help 550 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 4: us continue to share the message of hope. 551 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 2: With those all over the world. 552 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 5: Visit Jolostein dot com slash give Hope to give a 553 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 5: gift today. 554 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 555 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep. 556 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 2: You inspired all through the week. 557 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 4: We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 558 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 2: We'll see you next time. 559 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 560 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 6: for everyone. For example, Raquel's whoa when she first entered 561 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 6: the kingdom by dragging back is different to Ari's whoa 562 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 6: when he found out there was more than one crime scene, 563 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 6: which is also different to Ava's Whoa The moment when 564 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 6: the stable boy became a stable man from Whoa two 565 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 6: Whoa two. Amazon books that reading feeling awaits. 566 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 5: All inclusive vacations make life easy with endless eights, bottomless drinks, 567 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 5: and never ending fun, so booking an all inclusive vacation 568 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 5: should be easy too, write. That's where Apple Vacations comes in. 569 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 5: Book your all inclusive getaway with Apple Vacations and receive 570 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 5: exclusive perks as select resorts. You'll find the best deals 571 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 5: to secrets resorts in spas, in Mexico and the Caribbean, 572 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 5: and enjoy a selection of exclusive NonStop vacation flights. Turn 573 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,239 Speaker 5: on Easymode at Apple vacations dot com or call your 574 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 5: local travel advisor to get started. 575 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 7: Be a barbecue Hero with delicious ultra lownet carb Hero 576 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 7: bread buns and tortillas, soft and fluffy, high in fiber, 577 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 7: and with zero grams of sugar, end up to ten 578 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 7: grams of protein, coming in at under one hundred calories 579 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 7: per serving. Oh and did I mention they taste like 580 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 7: their mouthwatering traditional versions. It's enough to have the neighbors 581 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 7: asking for seconds. Use code IHM ten for ten percent 582 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 7: off your first hero Bred purchase at hero dot co. 583 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 7: That's quote IHM ten for ten percent off at hero 584 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 7: dot co.